Combined cover and stand for books



(No Model) J. PLANT; v COMBINED COVER AND STAND FOR BOOKS, PAPERS, &c.

Patented Jail. 12, 1897.

WITNESSES:

ATTOH N EY8 with STATES Prion. i

COMBINED COVER AND STAND FOR BOOKS, PAPERS, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,270, dated January 12, 1897. Application filed September 29,1894. Serial No. 524,436. (No model.)

To ztZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES PLANT, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in a Combined Cover and Stand for Books, Papers, &c., of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and eXact description.

My invention relates to improvements in combined covers and stands for books, papers, 850., particularly applicable for use in taking notes, making sketches, or referring to notes, sketches, &c., and has for its object the production of a simple and economically-constructed device which is particularly practical and effective in use; and to this end it consists in the general construction and arrangement of the component parts of the combined cover and stand, all as hereinafter more particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

I11 describing this invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like letters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is an isometric view of my improved invention, shown as arranged for use as a stand, a note-book being secured thereto in operative position. Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the parts seen at Fig. 1, my invention being illustrated in its position assumed when used as a cover and the book being closed; and Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on line 3 3, illustrating particularly the means for securing the book to the combined cover and stand.

My combined cover and stand consists of front and back covers A B, afiexible joint or hinge 0 between the adjacent extremitiesof the, covers A B,and a cross-bar D,which holds the covers A Bin their position assumed when my invention is used as a stand, as seen at Fig. 1, and is so constructed that it lies flat on one-of said covers when the device is used as a cover, as seen at Fig. 2. i

The covers A B are of any desirable form, size,and construction, and are preferably composed of pasteboard or other material. If desired, the opposite extremities of the covers may be provided with suitablebinding-strips a b for rendering the same more attractive in appearance and durable in use. The flexible binding G is also of any suitable construction, and in the preferable form of my invention is provided with apertures c for the reception of suitable fastening members for securing a book or other article to my improved combined cover and stand.

The cross-bar D is here shown as of less width than the cover to which it is secured, and in order to add to its appearance and oheapen the cost of its production is formed slightly tapering. Its larger end is secured bya suitable hinge d to one of the covers, as B, at a point interposed between the two extremities thereof, and its opposite end is detachably engaged with the adjacent or outer face of the opposite cover, as A, at a point interposed between the two extremities thereof. The cross-bar D is thus somewhat elevated above the outer edges of the covers A B when my invention is used as a stand.

As preferably constructed the free end of the cross-bar D is formed with a flexibly- .hinged tongue d, which may be more or less flexible, and is movable into and out of a pocket a in the adjacent or outer face of the cover A. The tongue cl of the cross-bar D and the pocket a of the cover A form a simple and practical means of detachably engaging said cross-bar and cover 5 but it is evident that other well-known means may be used for detachably engaging said parts.

A suitable fastener E is used for holding the cross-bar D in its inoperative position, as illustrated at Fig. 2, and I have here shown the fastener E as consisting of a rubber or flexible band passed around the cover B and the free end of said cross-bar. As clearly seen in the drawings, the tongue d of the cross-bar D is folded between said cross-bar and the adjacent portion of the outer face of the cover D, and it will be readily understood that the tongue of the cross-bar D is quickly and easily detached from its fastener E and detachably engaged with the opposite cover A, or disengaged from said cover and placed in its inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 2.

My combined cover and stand is particularly applicable for use with books for taking and referring to notes, and in the drawingsl have illustrated a note-book F as operatively secured thereto. The book F consists of a series of flexible leaves f f and a flexible back f of any suitable construction for permitting the book to be readily closed and its opposite divisions to lie flat upon the covers A B when my invention is used as a stand, as seen at Fig. 1.

The back f of the book F is preferably formed with one or more apertures f alined with the apertures c c in the flexible joint 0, and suitable fasteners Gr are passed through the apertures c f for securing the book F in operative position. The preferable construction of fastener Gr is formed with a head 9 and opposite flexible prongs g, the free ends of which are bent laterally upon the inner face of the back of the book, as clearly seen at Fig. 3. I have also shown a flexible band G as passed around the joint C and the adjacent portion of the open book F for additionally securing said book in operative position, and if the book F is unprovided with perforations] f 2 the fastener G may be solely relied upon for securing said book in operative position.

My combined cover and stand may also be used for securing sketches, drawings, memoranda-strips, or other suitable articles in such position that they may be readily referred to or may be inclosed between its covers A B.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood upon reference to the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings.

The combined cover and stand incloses a book, paper, or other article placed between its covers, thus preserving the same from injury and preventing an undesirable appearance thereof, and in this position may be neatly laid away or placed in the users pocket. Vhen taking notes or making memoranda or sketches upon the inclosed book or paper, the combined cover and stand lies perfectly flat, and thus assumes the most desirable position for practical use. lVhen it is desired to refer to the inclosed book or paper, the covers of my invention are quickly separated, the cross-bar is readily placed in its operative position and holds said covers apart, and may be easily returned to its inoperative position. The elevation of the cross-bar above the outer or lower edges of the covers permits my improved device to be placed upon a suit-able support without necessitating removal of obj ects which may enter between its covers and are not of sufficient height or in position to engage the cross-bar, and said cross-bar is particularly simple in construction, practical and effective in use, and permits ready and convenient change of the device from a cover to a stand, and vice versa.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1.. In combination, front and back reversible covers, one of the covers having its outer face provided with a pocket, a flexible joint between the adjacent extremities of the cov ers for separating the same to allow the insertion of a book or other article, and an exteriorly-arranged cross-bar having one end hinged to the outer face of the other cover between its two extremities and its opposite end provided with a hinged tongue for entering said pocket, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The herein-described book-cover, the same consisting of reversible front and back covers connected by a flexible joint to allow the insertion of a book or the like, a crossbar of less length than said covers hinged at a point on the exterior of one face of one of the covers so that its free end is opposite to and substantially coincident with the joint of the covers and having its free end provided with a flexibly-hinged folding tongue, normally folded upon the cross-bar when the covers are closed, a retaining-loop for securing said cross-bar to the covers when the same are closed, and a pocket in the exterior face of the opposite cover for the insertion of the flexibly-hinged tongue of the cross-bar when the covers are opened and reversed to support the covers in a vertically-inclined position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In combination, front and back reversible covers, a flexible joint between the adjacent extremities of said covers for separating the same to allow the insertion of a book or other article, said joint being provided with an aperture therethrough, a pocket provided upon the outer face of one cover, an exteriorly-arranged cross-bar having one end secured to the outer face of the other cover and its opposite end provided with a hinged tongue for entering said pocket, a book supported by the covers, and provided with an aperture therethrough, and a fastener passed through said apertures for securing the book in operative position, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two attesting witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, this 27th day of September, 1804.

JAMES PLANT.

IVitnesses GEO. W. CORY, J. O. FENNER. 

